Reflector socket mount for lighting fixtures



INVENTOR.

REFLECTOR SOCKET MOUNT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Aug. 19, 1964 Dec.27, 1966 J. A. PASCUCCI 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1966 J. A. PASCUCCIREFLECTOR SOCKET MOUNT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.19, 1964 7 w/\ 5 /4 4 7 w z w a 5 2 m fi fim v pm A 5 A j i j a 2 m mp.m E 0 1 m K H m M 1. o/i|(w\k/\ a z T M m L 2 l 5 v w n u Z 5 x a 2 7 l9 0 3 1 Mm L United States Patent cut Filed Aug. 19, 1964, Ser. No.390,549 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) This invention relates to improvements inlighting fixtures and more specifically to a novel and improvedstructure for mounting a lamp socket in a cooperating reflector tofacilitate adjustment of the socket relative to the reflector so thatthe filament of a lamp of a selected size or rating can be properlycoordinated with the reflector.

Incandescent lamps vary in physical size with light output, as it isnecessary to increase the area of the glass envelope as the powerdissipated in the filament is increased. Therefore, as the envelopes oflamps become progressively larger, the filament of the lamp is normallypositioned farther from the base. This has presented diificulties in thedesign and manufacture of lighting fixtures utilizing incandescentlamps, as it is often necessary to design a single lighting fixture forthe accommodation of at least two different size lamps, say 100 wattsand 150 watts or 200 watts and 300 watts.

This invention overcomes these difliculties and provides a novel andimproved lamp mount which is readily and easily adjustable to shift thelamp socket relative to the reflector so that the filament of a selectedlamp can be properly positioned relative to the reflector.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel and improvedadjustable socket mount for use with a cooperating reflector.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingsforming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in partial section of a light fixture embodyinga reflector and lamp mount in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective View of the lamp mount in accordancewith the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 44thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 6-6thereof.

The lighting fixture embodying a reflector and socket mount inaccordance with the invention may of course take any desirable form. Forconvenience, the lighting fixture illustrated in the drawings isintended to be recessed in ceiling C and comprises a rectangular frame10 supported by brackets 11 to suitable supports 12 and having a frontescutcheon or light controlling element 13. A reflector 14 of generallyconical configuration is supported by the frame 10 in any suitablemanner, and it includes an upwardly extending neck 15 carrying theimproved socket assembly generally denoted by the nurneral16. The socketassembly also includes means for reception and attachment of theelectric cable 18 as will be described.

Referring to FIGURES 3 through 6 inclusive, it will be observed that theupper edge 15' of the reflector neck 15 is provided with an inwardlyextending flange 19 having diagonally opposed cut out portions orrecesses 20. The inside diameter of the flange 19 is slightly largerthan the cylindrical and the channel members ICE outside diameter of thesocket housing 21 and the cutouts 20 are adapted to receive thechannel-like structures 22 on the housing 21. It will be observed as thedescription proceeds that these channel-like structures 22 serve, amongother things, to prevent rotation of the socket relative to thereflector and therefore facilitate insertion and removal of the lamp.

More specifically, the socket housing 21 is essentially 22 each comprisea pair of spaced outwardly extending ribs 23. The upper end of each rib23 has a portion 24 of increased depth and these portions are bridged bya top plate 25 having an opening 26 extending therethrough. The socketgenerally denoted by the numeral 27 may be of any suitable form, though,in the instant embodiment of the invention, it has an elongatedcylindrical section 28 disposed within the socket housing 21 andcarrying a receptacle for threadably receiving the base 29' of a lamp29. The upper end of the socket portion 28 is provided with an enlargedcylindrical portion 30 having a pair of outwardly extending cars 31 eachhaving an opening extending therethrough. The top portion 32 of thesocket 27 includes means for attachment of the leads 18' of the cable18, the latter being secured within the socket cover 17 by a suitableclamp 33. The socket cover 17 has outwardly extending cars 34, each ofwhich includes an opening aligned with the cooperating openings in theears 31 and the openings 26 in the plates 25.

The channel-like structures 22 on the socket cover 21 are adapted toreceive spring fasteners 35 each of which includes an elongated convexbody 36 with outwardly extending flanges 37 along each edge thereof. Theupper edge of the body 36 is bent outwardly at 38 and then curvedupwardly and inwardly -to form an essentially U-shaped section 39. TheU-shaped section 39 has a threaded opening 40 extending therethrough.

The socket 27, the socket housing 21, the socket cover 17 and the springfasteners 35 are assembled as shown in FIGURE 4, and held together by apair of bolts 41 extending through the openings in the several membersand threaded into the openings 40 of the spring fasteners 35. Thisprovides a sub-assembly with the electric cable 18 firmly securedthereto.

The spring fasteners 35 are for the purpose of fixing the socketassembly, as generally shown in FIGURE 4, in the reflector, and, forthis purpose, the side flanges 37 of the spring fasteners 35 eachinclude pairs of spaced notches 42 and 43. These pairs of notches arespaced apart a distance corresponding to the difference in the physicalsizes of two lamps having different light outputs, as, for instance, a-watt lamp and a -watt lamp. In the case of the 150-watt lamp, which issomewhat longer than the 100-watt lamp, the socket assembly is insertedin the reflector until the notches 42 engage the bases 20' of therecessed portions 20 in the reflector and as shown more clearly inFIGURE 6. With this arrangement, the filament of the ISO-watt lamp willbe properly positioned in the reflector to obtain the desired lightdistribution. In the event it is desired to use a 100- watt lamp, whichis physically smaller than the lSO-watt lamp, the spring fasteners 35would be depressed and the socket assembly moved inwardly of the neck 15of the reflector until the notches 43 in the spring fasteners engage theedges 20 of the recesses 20. In this way, the filament of the 100-wattlamp will be properly positioned relative to the reflector to producesubstantially the same light distribution pattern obtained with thelSO-watt lamp.

While the spring fasteners 35 have been shown with only two notches toaccommodate lamps of two different sizes, it is possible to provide morethan two sets of notches. Furthermore, the socket assembly and springfasteners may be arranged to accommodate larger type lamps such as lampsof 200, 300 and 500 watts.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the novel andimproved socket assembly and mount affords a highly economical,dependable and rugged means for adjustably mounting lamps in a reflectorand greatly simplifies the problems of assembly and maintenance.Furthermore, while the mount as described above was intended toaccommodate lamps of different sizes Within a given reflector, it isalso readily adaptable for use in shifting the position of a lamp withina reflector to modify the light distribution characteristics of thefixture. For instance, by properly designing an appropriate reflector,it is possible by shifting the lamp relative to the reflector to eitherconcentrate the light in a relatively narrow beam or distribute thelight in a relatively Wide cone for floodlighting.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications andchanges may be made without departing from the true scope and spiritthereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a reflector having asocket receiving opening, ofan adjustable lamp mount to permit a given lamp to be positioned withits filaments in a predetermined location relative to said reflectorcomprising a tubular socket housing slidably engaging said reflectoropening and movable axially thereof, a lamp socket carried by saidhousing, axially disposed means carried by said socket housing inangularly spaced relationship, the socket receiving opening in saidreflector having recesses in the edge thereof slidably receiving saidaxially disposed means to prevent relative rotation of said sockethousing and said reflector and means associated with said axiallydisposed means adjustably fixing the axial position of said housingrelative to said reflector to position the filament of a lamp in apredetermined position relative to said reflector.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the last said meanscomprises at least two elongated resilient elements carried by saidtubular housing and axially spaced means on each resilient element forselective engagement with said reflector opening.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last said means includes apair of channel-like members secured to the outer surface of saidhousing and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofsaid housing, the last said channel-like members engaging said reflectorto fix said housing against rotation while permitting axial movementthereof relative to said opening and a pair of resilient elements withinsaid channel-like members, said resil ient elements including axiallyspaced notches for selective engagement With the edge of said reflectoropening.

4. The combination with a reflector having an opening therein andwherein said opening has diagonally opposed recesses formed in the edgethereof, of a lamp socket mount adjustably positioned in said opening,said mount comprising a tubular housing, channel-like elements carriedin diagonally opposite positions on said housing and fixedly securedthereto, a lamp socket carried at least partially within said housingand channel-like resilient means disposed within each of saidchannel-like means and secured relative to said housing, said resilientmeans having axially spaced notches therein for engagement with theedges of said recesses.

5. The combination with a reflector having an opening therein andwherein said opening has diagonally opposed recesses formed in the edgethereof, of a lamp socket mount adjustably positioned in said opening,said mount comprising a cylindrical tubular housing adapted to slidablyengage said reflector opening, a first pair of outwardly extending ribsin spaced parallel relationship carried by the Wall of said housing andextending along the length thereof, a transverse plate bridging one endof said pair of ribs, a second similarly positioned pair of ribs carriedby said housing in a position diagonally opposed to the first said pairof ribs and a plate bridging one end of said second pair of ribs, saidplates being substantially coplanar and each having an opening extendingtherethrough, a socket at least partially disposed within said housingand having a pair of diagonally opposed ears each of which includes anopening extending therethrough, a resilient clip carried between eachpair of said ribs, each resilient member having an elongated portionincluding outwardly extending flanges and terminating at its upper endin a horizontally disposed U-shaped configuration with the outer leg ofsaid U-shaped configuration having an opening therein, means extendingthrough the openings in said socket ears, said plates and said resilientmembers to form a socket assembly, said resilient members having spacedpairs of notches in said flanges, said spaced ribs engaging the recessesin the edge of said reflector opening to restrict rotation of thehousing relative to said reflector, and said notches in said resilientmembers engaging the inner edges of said recesses to fix the socketassembly in a selected position relative to said reflector.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said socket assemblyfurther includes a cover having outwardly extending ears, and means insaid cover adapted to receive and secure an electric cable thereto forconnection to said socket, said cover being aflixed to said socketassembly to enclose the back portion of said socket and electricalconnections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,056 8/1934Saaf 24078 2,857,509 10/1958 Fuller 240-144 X FOREIGN PATENTS 138,5582/1920 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. CHARLES C. LOGAN II, AssistantExaminer,

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A REFLECTOR HAVING A SOCKET RECEIVING OPENING,OF AN ADJUSTABLE LAMP MOUNT TO PERMIT A GIVEN LAMP TO BE POSITIONED WITHITS FILAMENTS IN A PREDETERMINED LOCATION RELATIVE TO SAID REFLECTORCOMPRISING A TUBULAR SOCKET HOUSING SLIDABLE ENGAGING SAID REFLECTOROPENING AND MOVABLE AXIALLY THEREOF, A LAMP SOCKET CARRIED BY SAIDHOUSING, AXIALLY DISPOSED MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SOCKET HOUSING INANGULARLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP, THE SOCKET RECEIVING OPENING IN SAIDREFLECTOR HAVING RECESSES IN THE EDGE THEREOF SLIDABLE RECEIVING SAIDAXIALLY DISPOSED MEANS TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID SOCKETHOUSING AND SAID REFLECTOR AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AXIALLYDISPOSED MEANS, ADJUSTABLE FIXING THE AXIAL POSITION OF SAID HOUSINGRELATIVE TO SAID REFLECTOR TO POSITION THE FILAMENT OF A LAMP IN APREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID REFLECTOR.